Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

As the flow of time between his internalized Universe and 'reality' were completely separate from each other, not even a single second had passed since Vahn forcibly pulled everyone inside. Even the light he had produced had yet to fade, and, though it quickly collapsed, his Void Emperor form was still active.Due to the Mental and Spiritual strain they had experienced, each member of the Heroes Faction was brought to their knees. As for the Xiantian Elders, they had completely lost consciousness, their Willpower to weak to even manifest within the [Regula Mundi]. Though they would eventually make a full recovery, the weakest among them would probably spend the next few days in a coma.Fortunately, despite feeling like his 'everything' was going to break apart, Vahn was able to remain standing. This might have been his first time forcibly pulling others inside, but it wasn't the first time he had activated [Regula Mundi]. It had been his main focus over the last few years, and, in the hope of mastering it, he even restricted the development of his Creation, Time, and Space Divinities.Though it would allow him to complete one of his Zenith Quests, affording him a ridiculous amount of OP and plentiful rewards, Vahn had learned the importance of patience. There were still numerous Optional Objectives as part of the Quest, but, more importantly, he had no intention of 'borrowing' a Divinity from the Root System. His current Divinity was intrinsically tied to the planet, so, while it still functioned properly within the Moon Cell, the omniscience and power it provided were useless when he ventured further outward.Like other Gods, Vahn 'borrowed' the Divine Authority that had been granted to him. Though it was still his power, it would be taken away the moment he exited the Nasuverse. There was no actual way to prevent this, but, if he could comprehend a 'higher-tiered' Divinity, one linked directly to Sol, or, ideally, the Root System itself, the amount of insight he would gain was incomparable. After all, there was a big difference between obtaining omniscience tied to a planet and omniscience tied to a solar system. If he could achieve the later, there was a very real chance he could create a solar system of his own, preventing some of the problems he was bound to face in the not-so-distant future...Content with how things had gone, Vahn couldn't help but smile as he spread revitalizing energy through his domain. At the same time, he deactivated the [Virtual Reality Marble], find his body had become a pincushion for various shadowy kunai and shuriken. This nearly caused him to burst out laughing, especially when he saw the 'realization' in Danzō's eyes. She immediately tried to create a distance from him, but, due to having been in the middle of an attack, Vahn was able to reach out, grabbing her wrist as he mused, "I was wondering where you were..."Since Danzō hadn't appeared within [Regula Mundi], Vahn was able to indirectly discover one of the few weaknesses of the [Virtual Reality Marble]. It might be able to create a near-perfect projection of reality, but, if the target existed in an intangible Spiritual form, it seemed they were unaffected by its activation. As a result, Danzō had been free to attempt his assassination, taking advantage of the fact his body was largely defenseless while he, and everyone else, had their conscience pulled inside.Without saying anything, Danzō activated a mechanism in her forearm, discarding the hand that had been grasped by Vahn. Then, from her forearm itself, flames nearing 4,000 degrees Celsius shot out, encompassing much of Vahn's upper body and allowing her to create some distance between them. Unfortunately, despite performing several acrobatic maneuvers, Danzō felt her body gripped by an oppressive force the moment she came to a stop, almost as if an invisible hand and enveloped her entire body beneath the neck.When the flames and smoke faded away, Vahn could be seen with his hand outstretched, a wry smile on his face. He was using the unnamed spell, Mage Hand, a spell Eva had taught him prior to the far more advanced Telekinesis. It was an Apprentice-Level spell, but, in the hands of a Magister, it could be extremely effective in sealing an opponent's movement. Since Danzō only had D-Rank Endurance and Strength, combined with an inherent weakness to Magic, there was little more she could do than spit a black needle that had been concealed within her mouth.Catching the needled between his fore and middle fingers, Vahn lightly chuckled before stating, "You are one of the most determined members of the Heroes Faction. The battle is already over, however, so you can stop attacking."Hearing Vahn's words, Danzō immediately ceased trying to resist, her rigid body becoming similar to a marionette that had its strings cut. The reason for this was, unlike many of the other Heroic Spirits that had been summoned to aid the Heroes Faction, Danzō was still under his command. He had a limited number of [Seal of Binding] at his disposal, so, while it was possible to obtain more through the updated System Shop, it was easier to simply summon Heroic Spirits that would dutifully follow orders. This was also why he couldn't easily abandon the thought of analyzing Danzō's body, as, if he really wanted to, she would allow him to do so without any real resistance...Discarding idle thoughts, Vahn turned his attention to Hou Yi and Chang'e, his expression turning slightly apologetic once he saw the trepidation visible in their eyes. They had been given a glimpse at his true power, so, even if he made an earnest effort to remain their friend, there would always be a small amount of fear present in the back of their minds. After all, to them, he was an existence that was already on the level of the Jade Emperor, a being that they simply couldn't afford to offend.Seeing the look on Vahn's face, Hou Yi returned an apologetic one of his own as he helped support Chang'e. The latter had a similar expression, but, due to her kind nature, she was able to manage a smile as she said, "I shall carve this day into my heart. To bear witness Your Imperial Majesty's power with my own eyes...this little one lacks the words to properly express her gratitude..."Despite being unable to stand on her own, Chang'e attempted a polite bow, but, before she could do so, a gentle force pushed against her, preventing her unnecessary actions. At the same time, Vahn stated in a soft yet firm tone, "I appreciate the sentiment, but such formalities are unnecessary. While it may prove difficult, I would rather things remain the same as before. It would sadden me if the two of you were to suddenly act like strangers."Hearing Vahn's words, Chang'e nodded her head in understanding before honestly admitting, "It will take some time..." while lowering her head politely. This action was mimicked by Hou Yi, but, by the time he raised his face, much of the previous discomfort had vanished. After all, he and his wife both owed Vahn an unpayable debt, so, while it would be difficult to behave normally around him, it was an effort they were more than willing to make...Seeing Hou Yi's expression, Vahn felt some of his tensions fade away, replaced by a feeling of relief as he turned his attention towards the others. Raikou and Kintoki didn't seem all that affected by the experience, but, perhaps due to their 'enmity' with each other, Shirou had a distant look in his eyes. He was the closest thing to an actual human within the Heroes Faction, and, considering how recent his 'legend' was, it wasn't all that surprising for him to be at a loss after experiencing something far beyond mortal comprehension.Under normal circumstances, Vahn wouldn't particularly care about Shirou's mentality, but, fearing the man might genuinely break, he went out of his way to ask, "Is this the limit you have decided for yourself?"Hearing Vahn's question, a bit of light returned to Shirou's eyes as he furrowed his brows and asked, "What are you talking about?"Without losing his patience, Vahn gave a small nod before answering, "The words I spoke were not an arbitrary declaration. So long as you endeavor to seek greater understanding, there are no limits to a person's growth. Even those elderly men above have the resolution to seek immortality, despite being 'normal humans'. If you convince yourself there is no hope, that becomes your reality. Time is always moving forward, Shirou Emiya...it will not wait for you..."Shirou was taken aback by Vahn's words, but, before he could say anything, the latter already turned his attention away, seemingly to emphasize a point. This caused Shirou to feel bitter, and, for a brief moment, he was tempted to lash out against Vahn's 'arrogance'. From Shirou's perspective, he was a man who had been given everything from the start. His power also increased at an exponential rate, making a mockery of the effort others put in...In the end, the only thing that kept Shirou from lashing out was the fact he was well acquainted with the 'unfairness' of the world. His original self had spent decades fighting against this unfairness, but, in the end, it was his own 'unfair' power that had allowed him to do so. He had even borrowed the power and influence of others to act with impunity, causing trouble for the people he should have cared about the most. As a result, he ended up losing everything, even the life he had dedicated to the salvation of others.Remembering the hostility displayed by Artori, Rin, Illya, and even Luvia, Shirou couldn't help but release a tired sigh. They had accused him of being selfish and egotistical, and, after mulling over the facts, he had to agree with them. He had always done whatever he thought was 'best', often ignoring the advice of people that only had his concerns in mind. This had always been the case, even during the Holy Grail War, where, even after losing his life and being saved by Rin, he continually did things at his own pace, forcing others into difficult positions...While Shirou was having an existential crisis, Vahn was helping everyone else recover using various alchemical concoctions that had been produced by Paracelsus. Many of these used [Avalon Apple]s as an ingredient, so, rather than the bitter taste of medicine, they were mildly sweet and refreshingly tart.Once everyone had recovered enough to move around without any issues, Vahn gestured toward the fallen Xiantian Elders before saying, "It will probably cause you some hassle, but I'm going to destroy the array around the Forbidden City. I'll also be sending Kenshin to conduct an audit of the various settlements that have been popping up as of late. I don't care what reasoning they use, they do not have the right to arbitrarily siphon the mana of others. Even in the information that has been provided to the public, there are plenty of less destructive arrays present. I'll give them two weeks to replace the arrays that currently exist. Future offenses will require punitive measures to be taken..."As he had already warned the Xiantian Elders of the possibility, Hou Yi gave an understanding nod as he said, "The Heroes Faction will take care of it. After today, I can't imagine any of the major families in China opposing your decree. They are a prideful bunch, but, more than anything else, they seek to preserve the lives of themselves and their families. You were able to easily destroy an array that was supposed to be capable of restraining even Gods. Even if that wasn't entirely true, it was something they believed to be true. Now, for fear of losing the power they had consolidated over generations, I imagine they will do everything in their power to appease you."Vahn was well aware of everything Hou Yi was saying, but, as it really didn't matter all that much, he gave a dismissive shrug before saying, "I'll entrust the matter to you. It was never my intention to try and rule the world so I have little interest in such politics."After witnessing Vahn's power, Hou Yi wasn't even remotely surprised by the former's words. Though he had always said something similar, there was a big difference between the platitudes spewed by a simple God and a Primordial Deity. Vahn would be unable to increase his strength so drastically if he didn't fully believe in the things he said and did, so, compared to before, his words carried infinitely more weight. Rather, it was pure egotism for humans to believe Vahn regarded them highly enough to even want to rule them...As this thought crossed his mind, Hou Yi couldn't help but look at the unassuming and cordial man before him. At a glance, he didn't really seem like an Emperor, much less a God. Instead, he seemed like an idealistic young man who simply wanted to live peacefully. Despite this, he was an entity that transcended everything, a being without any limits to its growth. This was, honestly, a little terrifying, but, knowing the next Primordial Deity was a kind-hearted man, Hou Yi couldn't help but feel a small amount of relief...the Heavens knew how tyrannical some Gods could be...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Patience is a virtue','Danzō is very determined xD...','Vahn be like, "Rule the world? I'd rather just mofu mofu and go on a picnic..." *realization hits him* "Actually, I think I'll do both. Clean this up for me, will ya?"')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

After briefing Hou Yi on some of his future plans, Vahn was preparing to be rid of the Great Spiritual Gathering Array when a familiar figure of Musashi appeared within the largely destroyed arena. She had an incredulous look on her face, and, after seeing how 'casual' everyone was behaving, adopted a slightly annoyed expression as she asked, "Don't tell me...I missed the battle?"Though he hadn't exactly forgotten about Musashi, Vahn was caught off guard due to her timing. He had already calmed down from the previous battles, so, while he didn't mind continuing, it no longer felt 'right'...With a wry smile on his face, causing Musashi to give him a pointed look, Vahn stated, "It seems the battle has already come to an end. The agreement was to fight...eight...battles..."As he spoke, Vahn felt like the temperature in the surroundings was steadily dropping. At the same time, Musashi had lowered her head, her bangs concealing her face as a rather demonic atmosphere began to permeate around her. Then, while slowly drawing one of her katanas, she stated in an eerie, reverberating tone, "So...you're gonna leave? Just like that...?"Seeing Musashi's reaction, Vahn lightly furrowed his brows. He knew she was a bit of a battle maniac, but, after their previous battles, it didn't make sense for her to be so eager. Rather, the last time they fought was nearly four months prior, as, during their last encounter, she ended up engaging Artoria in a rather climactic battle. He had to step in at the last moment, as, due to their competitive nature, both women were on the verge of killing each other after getting too enthralled in their battle...The moment Vahn began thinking back to the last battle, he felt his perception of time slow down a considerable amount. Before he could react, his left arm was already spinning through the air, albeit without any blood spilling. Instead, the limb dissolved into nothingness, replaced by a new one as he 'flickered' out of existence. In the next instant, he appeared right in front of Musashi, a stern look on his face as he asked, "You're so eager to do battle? Fine, I'll keep you company..."Following his words, Vahn was preparing to activate a [Virtual Reality Marble], but, in response to his question, Musashi just shrugged her shoulders, saying, "Meh, it's whatever. I'm not gonna impose if you're already finished with everything. I guess I'm just annoyed that I missed the timing?"With the [Virtual Reality Marble] still in hand, Vahn had a somewhat awkward expression on his face, as, after Musashi's 'attack', his blood had started to boil. He was just about to get in the mood, so, to hear such a half-hearted response, he couldn't help but feel as though the wind had been taken out of his sails. This situation reminded him of the instances where Nobunaga had intentionally riled him up, only to refuse his advances due to prior arrangements...Seeing the look on Vahn's face, a smile returned to Musashi's as she mused, "Now you know how I feel. So, what are you gonna do? Wanna go? I could go either way at this point..."As she spoke, Musashi cast her eyes toward her allies, briefly pausing when she saw the defeated look on Shirou's face. This caused her brows to scrunch, a bitter taste spreading through her mouth that stirred her alcoholic cravings. It was pretty clear something major had happened, but, as that didn't really concern her, she turned her attention back to Vahn, awaiting his response.Having noticed the minute changes in Musashi's expression, Vahn felt the timing for a battle had come and gone. She would undoubtedly accept his challenge, allowing them both to release some of their tensions, but, once everything came to a conclusion, it was difficult to say whether or not they would be satisfied. Without any 'stakes', such battles were little more than glorified spars, so, regardless of how much fun they had, it would seem 'pointless' after the fact.As this thought crossed his mind, Vahn fell into a momentary daze, his attention drawn to one of the most prominent currents flowing around him. When he gazed into it, he saw a scene that caused his heart to palpitate a few times, and, if not for his control, he would have been compelled to swallow...Noticing the subtle change in the way Vahn was looking at her, a look of suspicion flashed across Musashi's eyes. She knew he had the ability to peer into 'future possibilities', and, depending on his choices, he could guarantee certain outcomes. This wasn't all that dissimilar to her [Empyrean Eyes], but, from their previous encounters, she knew his ability was marginally more advanced. He was the only person she had ever come across, with the exception of Munenori, who was able to completely counteract her ability to actualize an intended outcome.Like the proverbial cat, Musashi couldn't help but feel curious about Vahn's subtle change, causing her to lean forward a bit as she asked, "What did you see...?"Though he knew she wasn't trying to seduce him, Vahn's heart beat a little faster due to Musashi's posture. Her intrigued look also enhanced her beauty considerably, nearly causing him to avert his eyes on instinct. Fortunately, nearly two-hundred years of experience with women didn't leave him completely defenseless against their charms. As a result, he managed a wry smile, maintaining eye contact as he muttered, "I saw something...very tempting..."Hearing Vahn's answer, various thoughts ran through Musashi's mind. This included a fair number of 'dangerous' thoughts, causing her complexion to flush slightly as she adopted an uncharacteristically bashful smile as she muttered, "It must have been quite something for an Emperor to be tempted in such a manner..."At this point, the current had increased to the point that, unless he diverted course, all future actions would lead toward the same path. As a result, Vahn had to slowly inhale through his nose in order to avoid making a rash decision. He couldn't deny it was an unbelievable temptation, but, when it came to certain bridges, there was no turning back once crossing. Depending on his choice, he would have to make a lot of changes to his current plans...Due to his hesitation, Vahn noticed that the current had started to disperse into many smaller paths. At the same time, Musashi averted her eyes away from him, her unnaturally beautiful eyes reflecting the image of her companions in the Heroes Faction. She seemed to be reconsidering her thoughts, giving Vahn a strange feeling of unease that was hard to put into words. As a result, his body began to move before his mind willed it, his left hand gently turning Musashi's face back toward him as he asked, "Would you like to join me for a drink...?"For a brief moment, uncertainty flashed across Musashi's eyes, but, almost immediately thereafter, the dispersing current converged into a powerful flow as she answered, "You'll have to provide the drinks. I won't accept any cheap alcohol either...my company is pretty expensive, you know?"Though her word choice was a little suspect, Vahn couldn't help but lightly chuckle in response to Musashi's teasing. Then, without explaining anything to the other members of the Heroes Faction, he teleported them away from the Forbidden City. This made it appear as though they were going off to have a climactic battle elsewhere, but, while this wasn't exactly wrong, the form of the battle was significantly different from expectations. The only one who seemed to sense the peculiarity of the departure was Shirou, but, after everything that had happened, he simply sighed before saying, "We should return..." in a tired voice.---Due to varying time zones, Japan was a little more than eight hours ahead of Avalonian time. As a result, it was already late in the evening when Vahn and Musashi appeared near the latter's 'secret hideout', the place where she kept all of her alcohol. It hadn't really changed much over the last six months, but, due to the increase in monsters and the occasional appearance of Phantasmal Beasts, a powerful barrier had been erected to keep others out.Seeing the familiar terrain, Musashi began to feel strangely unnerved, but, as she wasn't exactly a maiden lacking in experience, she summoned her usual bravado, smiling as she teased, "I guess it shouldn't come as a surprise that you know about this place. I wonder, is there anything you don't know? It always feels like we're dancing in the palm of your hand..."Though he knew she wasn't expecting an actual answer, Vahn shook his head, explaining, "Though I knew of the location of this place, I knew nothing about it. It might not make a lot of sense, but, in a way, you are the one that brought us here. As for knowing everything...that isn't really accurate. As a God, I have a limited form of Omniscience, but, in the grand scheme of things, I just go with the flow of thing..."Hearing Vahn's words, Musashi issued a dry laugh, crossing her arms as she said, "You know, people don't really expect you to explain everything to them. Honesty is good and all, but it...kind of ruins the mood when you go out of your way to expose things. Now, it feels like you're implying I'm the one that set all of this in motion. Make no mistake...I followed you here..."Realizing he had been a little thoughtless in his behavior, Vahn released a sigh before lowing himself to the ground and saying, "Sorry. Honestly, I'm just a little nervous. It might sound a little cliche, but, no matter how much time passes, my heart still beats quickly when I'm alone with a beautiful girl. In a way, it makes me feel like I 'need' to say bold things in order to impress them..."Following Vahn's example, Musashi also took a seat on the ground, making use of the cushion that had appeared out of thin air. She hadn't missed the fact that Vahn snuck in a compliment, causing a smile to spread across her face as she said, "You've got a silver tongue, don't ya? I wonder how many women you've wiled with such flowery words...?"In response to Musashi's question, Vahn showed a serious and calculating expression on his face, almost as if he was trying to find the solution to a complex equation. This caused Musashi's smile to nearly break, the side of her mouth twitching as she internally remarked, ("Why is he acting like I just asked him about the number of meals he's eaten in his life!?")Deciding it was safer not to given an exact answer, Vahn ultimately shook his head, stating, "More than I ought to. In a way, it is one of my biggest flaws. Still, I can't help but be drawn to beautiful and powerful women. If I were to refuse their sincerity, I believe I would regret it for a long time...it might not be possible, but I'd like to live without regrets."Snorting through her nose, Musashi accepted the cup of sake Vahn had extended to her, adopting a chiding tone as she said, "If I didn't know better, I'd say you have commitment issues. I mean, I'm not in a position to complain, but...well, let's just say I've never been fond of the double-standards when it comes to sexuality. I want you to be honest with me, Vahn...if...if I let you have sex with me...are you going to be angry if I have sex with other people?"Though he didn't really expect Musashi's question, Vahn didn't react in an adverse manner, allowing her to breathe a little easier. Instead, he showed a thoughtful expression before answering, "Though I have earned a fair number of lectures as a result, I have always advocated that everyone is free to love as they please. I do everything in my power to make sure my women are satisfied, but, if a time came where they sought the companionship of another, I would accept that. So long as they were honest about the situation, it would be hypocritical of me to lambast them for something I am guilty of..."Surprised by Vahn's response, Musashi couldn't help but look at him as if she were looking at an idiot. His words made sense, but, given his nature, it was hard to imagine him being okay with any of his women straying away. Rather, even if he was okay with it, Musashi imagined his 'harem' wouldn't take kindly to the 'betrayal'. All of the women around him seemed unnaturally faithful, in a way that greatly exceeded a natural relationship. Artoria, in particular, seemed more concerned about Vahn's pride and honor than he was, willing to put her life on the line to protect it...Deciding it was best not to think about Vahn's complex love life, Musashi downed the remnants of her cup before setting it to the side and saying, "You're a real weirdo...well, whatever..."Following her dismissive words, Musashi pulled the cord binding her obi. In the next moment, her soft, impeccably-shaped, breasts were out in the open. She generally wore a loose-fitting, highly revealing, kimono, so, without its bindings, the garment could be removed in mere moments. If she really wanted to, she could discard all of her garments in an instant, removing the last piece before the first even touched the ground. To further 'exacerbate' matters, she never wore a bra or panties, both as a result of the time period she had been born in and personal preference...Seeing Musashi's exposed breasts, Vahn could no longer resist swallowing, further egging her on by the 'unexpected' reaction. She knew he was very experienced, but, contrary to expectations, Musashi found the current Vahn rather 'cute'. A sudden urge to tease him began to well up inside her, but, as her instincts cautioned her against such actions, she, instead, got straight to the point, asking, "Well, it's your move...show me what all the fuss is about..."(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Musashi be like, "It's been, like, ten minutes! It can't be over!"','This has to be some kind of bullying... -Shirou, 2015','I'm not sure if this is the result of fearlessness or ignorance...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Vahn's penultimate goal within the Nasuverse was to be able to absorb the planet, or, at the very least, Avalon, into his Soul. He had spent a considerable amount of time in this endeavor, studying the Realms of Arcueid, Illya, Aoko, Tiamat, Azathoth, and, most recently, Artoria.Since the flow of time within a Realm, referred to as a Marble Phantasm in the Nasuverse, could be completely severed from the Time Axis, Vahn had a functionally infinite amount of time to perform his research. As a result, he had already spent years researching the phenomenon further, increasing his age by nearly a decade in the last six months. This brought him infinitely closer to his goal, and, though it often felt like he was still at the starting line, Vahn's understanding of his 'true nature' had allowed him to reach a level of power beyond his past self's comprehension.The Path was an existence that exceeded the Tier System in its entirety. It was something beyond even 'concept' itself, serving ad the foundation that allowed for such things to exist. There were no limits to The Path's capabilities, it's only restrictions being the comprehension of the user and their willingness to 'discard' everything, becoming something 'more'.If he sincerely desired it, discarding all other thoughts, Vahn would be able to reach a pinnacle of power that even the most powerful beings within the Records were unable to comprehend. The only thing that held him back was his 'humanity', his desire for freedom, and, most importantly, his family. These were things he would never give up, and, while it would undoubtedly let him become stronger in a short period of time, Vahn believed this was a 'dead-end' path. After all, what was the point of power when your very reason for obtaining it was lost in the process?As these thoughts crossed his mind, Vahn opened, not his eyes, but his 'awareness' of everything. It was similar to the omniscience he had experienced during his battle against Heracles, a state that, at the time, was so overwhelming that it threatened to sever his connection to the Record. Now, Vahn had reached a point where, unless he willed it so, the only thing that could eject him from a Record was the Quest function, as, even if they tried their hardest, Akasha and her Superior would never be able to 'erase' his existence. This was power only he, as The Path itself, possessed...Though he no longer had a body to speak from, Vahn's voice seemed to echo through the nebulous 'cosmos' that had come into existence as a result of his [Regula Mundi], stating, "Conscience is not the result of chance. It is not born from the creation of the Universe, rather, the Universe only exists in response to the conscience desire to 'be'. So long as the possibility of existence remains, there are no limits to the ways in which it can be expressed. Eternity is merely the framework. Reality is merely the byproduct...now, 'Awaken'."One of the most powerful forms of 'Magic' was 'Authority', the ability to manifest your intent, and, at times, shape reality to your expectations. So long as you had a strong enough Willpower, controlling life and fate itself wasn't beyond the realm of possibility. Rather, even when he began to awaken his powers back in Danmachi, Vahn had experienced this power first hand. He had been able to order those with weaker wills to simply 'vanish', turning them to dust and effectively erasing them with, not with the word itself, but with the intent contained within...Following Vahn's command, particulates seemed to gather from within the void, quickly coalescing into the shape of five naked bodies. This hadn't exactly been his intention, so, immediately after they were given form, Vahn found himself stating, "There is no shame in the form of existence. It is in the pursuit of individuality that we seek to hide, concealing the beauty of creation behind facades, both real and abstract. Free will is the burden placed upon sapient life, laying the foundation of all paths, past, present, and future. To protect that which you hold dear, the right to 'Conceal' has been given."Before any of the Heroes could even begin to understand what was happening, their bodies became shrouded in garments that appeared to be woven from the fabric of the Cosmos. The only exception to this was Kintoko, who, perhaps as a result of his 'confidence', remained almost completely naked. The only thing covered were his eyes, concealed behind sunglasses that were formed from the same material as everyone else's clothes.As they had manifested next to each other, Raikou seemed to lose interest in their peculiar situation, staring at Kintoki with an appraising look before smiling as she said, "Kintoki-kun...it seems we need to have a long discussion once we return..."Even before Raikou had finished her words, clothes manifested to cover Kintoki's body. At the same time, he rubbed the back of his head, saying in an awkward tone, "Don't blame me for this, Ma. Even I know better than to walk around completely naked..."Seeing the interaction between the two, everyone else was in a slight stupor, unable to understand the situation they were in. They seemed to be floating in outer space, but, despite an apparent lack of atmosphere, they were able to breathe with relative ease. Chang'e and Hou Yi even felt like they had returned to the Heavenly Jade Realm. There was such an extreme amount of Heavenly Energy, also known as Divine Energy, that their Divinity seemed to be gradually increasing in purity.As if sensing their thoughts, a majestic voice that seemed to emanate from 'everywhere' stated, "The various Heavens are Realms given shape by the Intention of powerful beings. This is not Heaven. It is a Realm of Possibility, a blank slate by which Infinite Potentials can be realized. Here, the influence of the Laws has no meaning. Even Space, Time, and Fate did not exist before they were observed. Here, Expectation and Intent reign supreme, fueled by Willpower and empowered by the Soul..."Following his explanation, Vahn willed himself into existence, further stunning everyone present by appearing as a being that dwarfed even planets. His skin no longer possessed the nebulous quality from before. Instead, his upper body was left bare, gentle golden light radiating a calm and peaceful aura that seemed to stretch outward without limit. As for his lower body, it was veiled by the fabric of Space, sewn together by runic constellations and patterned with distant Nebulas. Atop his head, a nine-pointed symbol formed of golden light appeared like a halo, while, behind his back, a dharmic wheel, formed from pale-gold and covered in countless runes, appeared to slowly revolve.Seeing Vahn's appearance, even Shirou couldn't shake the feeling he was standing before an all-powerful God. There was a greater disparity between the current Vahn and all of them combined than the disparity that would exist between a normal human and a single ant. The human would be able to kill the ant with ease, but, depending on the circumstances, the ant could still sting or bite before its death. Even if they combined all of their powers, however, they would be unable to cause even a small amount of damage to the current Vahn, as, despite appearing right before them, they would need to travel more than five-hundred-thousand kilometers just to reach him...While everyone was still stunned, Vahn explained, "This entire space exists within me. What you see before you is nothing more than an Avatar, a physical manifestation of my Will. All things, including Time and Space, are relative. In truth, I can only maintain this ability for three seconds in reality. Yet, due to the relative nature of all things, an eternity could pass within this place before my energy runs out. If I so desired, it would be possible to seal you within this place for Eternity. Unfortunately, that would require that I stay within, as, much like reality itself, it must be observed to maintain its form..."Hearing Vahn's explanation, Hou Yi decided to speak out, asking in a hesitant tone, "Is this place truly another Universe? Have you reached the level of the Primordial Creation...?"As deception was 'meaningless' in this state, Vahn shook his head in response to Hou Yi's question, answering, "Not yet." in a decisive tone.Though it wasn't wrong to say he was capable of creating a nascent Universe, his understanding of the Laws was severely lacking. He would not be able to create life from scratch, and, unless he closely observed those within, they could cease to exist at any given moment. To make matters even worse, there was a chance that any reasonably powerful entity sealed within would simply be able to escape, endangering the entire 'Universe' by targetting his body back in the 'real' world.Ultimately, unless he could reach Tier 5, Vahn was limited to 'emulating' their capabilities. Actual Tier 5s were able to maintain their Realms without any actual effort. Rather, it was a natural part of their existence, and, while it was possible for others to influence the form of their Realm, destroying it was virtually impossible. As for his, it was closer in form and function to a Reality Marble, albeit infinitely more powerful...Rather than feel any kind of 'relief' at the fact that Vahn wasn't yet at the level of Primordial Creation, Hou Yi was shaken by the confidence contained in his voice when stating 'Not yet'. Vahn seemed to possess no doubts that he would eventually reach that point, and, after witnessing this incident, both Hou Yi and Chang'e believed this was the case. This meant, at some point in the future, Vahn would even exceed the Jade Emperor and reach the level of 'Tao', rivaling the Three Pure Ones to become a manifestation of the myriad paths in which people take in life.As he was aware of all things within his domain, Vahn could sense Hou Yi's thoughts, finding them to be rather interesting. After all, he was, quite literally, The Path. His existence already transcended the Three Pure Ones mentioned in Taoist Philosophy and Mythos. Once his Soul Tier advanced, it wasn't an exaggeration to say that he could become the Creator of his own Universe. By the time he neared the peak of Tier 5, even creating a Multiversal System wasn't beyond the realm of possibility.Comforted by the thought he was slowly beginning to comprehend the path he was walking, Vahn adopted a smile as he said, "Trying to comprehend the nature of my being would require being near the same level. I am not bound by the pinnacles in which you can imagine, as, much like this space itself, I represent infinite possibilities...not just for myself, but for all things. There are no limitations, only the restrictions placed upon us by Fate, Karma, and ourselves..."Toward the end of his words, Vahn manifested a small star in his hand, smiling 'benevolently' as he sent it hurling toward the unsuspecting group. This caused them to panic quite a bit, but, with the exception of Chang'e and Hou Yi, the others weren't able to freely move in an environment without gravity. As a result, the [Elemental Star], traveling nearly a third the speed of light, enveloped Raikou, Kintoki, and Shirou. Then, before Chang'e and Hou Yi could retreat to a safe distance, the star began to expand, growing from 30,000km to nearly 3,000,000km in diameter in an instant, enveloping them before they could even embrace each other one final time...Though it wouldn't have been impossible for them to resist, only Innate abilities and those that had been cultivated through a concerted effort could be used within Vahn's [Regula Mundi]. Things such as Divinity had no effect as, within the nascent Universe, the Laws themselves had yet to be defined. The majority of Gods couldn't even use their Divinity beyond the boundaries of the Global Bounded Field, so, here, in a place where Gaia and Alaya simply didn't exist, they would have to rely on their own powers, not those granted to them.Content with the results of his 'experiment', Vahn gave a curt nod, internally stating, ("It seems even power and authority are a matter of perspective...at this rate, my plans will be complete long before Akasha and her Superiors begin to suspect anything...")In response to his musing, Sis gave an amused chuckle before adopting a slightly serious voice and stating, (*You still need to be careful. They may be none-the-wiser within the Virtual World, but, who knows what will happen if you attempt to meddle with reality? There are several Tier 5 entities that are bound to Gaia. You need to earn her cooperation if you want to avoid any future troubles.*)As his thoughts coincided with Sis', Vahn was well aware of what he had to do in order to ensure his plan was a success. Fortunately, the wish he had made nearly two-months prior had set the stage, so, after taking care of a few loose strings, he was ready to carry out his plan. The most important part was increasing his own power, but, with the assistance of Artoria and the rest, he had a functionally infinite amount of time to cover that particular issue.With his thoughts organized, Vahn's smile began to slowly fade away as he looked around at the nascent universe is had created. It was vast and infinite in scope, but, while it was possible to find a myriad and planets and stars, it was completely barren of life. Since he could sense 'everything', it was a rather disheartening realization that allowed him to understand why Gods were so eager to create life.Shaking his head, Vahn cleared away any sentiments he had for his creation, his golden irises taking on a pitch-black, abyssal, coloration as he extended his arms and declared, "Interim Mundi...Return to Oblivion..."The moment Vahn's 'words' fell, it was almost like an analog television had been shut off, causing all of reality to simply 'blink' out of existence. The only thing that remained was a single, infinitesimally small, point of light, but, without anything there to observe its existence, it, too, slowly faded from existence...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Is this Heaven's Will...!?','The biggest of bois...','All things originate from and return to Oblivion...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1487: Wake